Notification apparatus, notification method, notification system, and computer-readable recording medium

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a notification apparatus 1 including an alarm sound generating unit 2 for generating alarm sounds, a location information obtaining unit 3 for obtaining location information, an activating unit 4 for activating the alarm sound generating unit 2 and the location information obtaining unit 3, a communication unit 5 for performing low-power wide-area wireless communication, and a control unit 6 for transmitting notification information via the communication unit 5 if the control unit 6 fails to obtain the location information from the location information obtaining unit 3 after the activating unit 4 activated the alarm sound generating unit 2, the notification information including notification apparatus identifying information identifying the notification apparatus a and notification occurrence information indicative of occurrence of notification.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No.PCT/JP2019/003751 filed Feb. 1, 2019, claiming priority based onJapanese Patent Application No. 2018-058820 filed Mar. 26, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a notification apparatus, anotification method, a notification system for notifying a dangeroussituation, and further to a computer-readable recording medium storing aprogram for realizing these.

BACKGROUND ART

Crime cases targeting children frequently occur, such as cases in whicha child was nearly seduced to get on a car by a suspicious person whomthe child met on the way home from school. In such social environments,parents, teachers, PTA (Parent-Teacher Association), neighborhoodcommunity associations, boards of education, and the like take somesecurity measures for protecting children such as causing children tocarry a personal alarm device, in order that such crime cases involvingchildren victims may be reduced as much as possible.

However, even if a child turns on the personal alarm device in danger ofbeing a prey of such a crime, alarm sounds would not reach to someone invicinity in some cases. A reaching distance of the alarm sounds is, forexample, about 50 m in any directions in outdoor, depending onsurrounding environmental conditions. Therefore, if there are no peoplearound within 50 m from the child in any directions, the dangeroussituation cannot be notified to anyone, thereby possibly allowing thedangerous situation to continue.

In view of this, there have been some proposals for a personal alarmdevice capable of notifying that a child is in such a dangeroussituation, even if the child is in a place from which the alarm soundscannot reach someone around or even if the child is in a remote place.With such a personal alarm device, it is possible to transmit, to aremote place, information indicating that the child is in the dangeroussituation, and information indicating a location of the personal alarmdevice.

Moreover, Patent Document 1 proposes a portable terminal provided with apersonal alarm function. According to the portable terminal, a portableterminal configured to transmit location information to a servercomputer in a remote place via short-range wireless communication, thelocation information being obtained by GPS (Global Positioning System)or the like

LIST OF RELATED ART DOCUMENTS Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2015-195560

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, the portable terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 is for theshort-range wireless communication and therefore is merely capable ofnotifying terminals being capable of performing the short-range wirelesscommunication and being located within a distance of 5 m to 30 mtherefrom of the dangerous situation.

In view of this, use of wide-area wireless communication may beconsidered as a solution. However, the wide-area wireless communicationconsumes a greater amount of electricity compared with the short-rangewireless communication, and therefore requires more frequent replacementor charging of a battery of the portable terminal. Moreover, the use ofwide-area wireless communication for this purpose employs the samecommunication system as normal use of the wide-area wirelesscommunication, thereby resulting in a greater communication cost.

Moreover, the portable terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 obtainsthe location information by using the GPS, because it is necessary tofind out details of the location of the portable terminal. Moreover, theportable terminal is such that a GPS communication module mounted on theportable terminal keeps at warm standby or hot standby for the personalalarm function.

In case of the warm standby, the portable terminal keeps ON the GPScommunication module thereby to keep the GPS communication module readyfor obtaining the location information anytime. Moreover, in case of thehot standby, the portable terminal keeps ON the GPS communicationmodule, a wireless communication module, and a control module configuredto control the GPS communication module and the wireless communicationmodule, the wireless communication module and the control module beingmounted on the portable terminal, and keeps the GPS communicationmodule, the wireless communication module, and the control module readyfor obtaining the location information anytime, and transmitting theobtained location information anytime.

Therefore, the portable terminal keeps consuming the electricitythroughout the warm standby or the hot standby, thereby requiringfrequent replacement or charging of the battery of the portableterminal. In view of this, it may be considered as a solution that, inorder to reduce the electricity consumption of the GPS communicationmodule, the GPS communication module is kept at cold standby (completelyturned OFF) while the GPS communication is not being performed, and theGPS communication module is turned ON when to perform the GPScommunication in order to obtain the location information. However,activation of the GPS communication module requires about 1 minute, andtherefore this solution is not suitable for the personal alarm function.

An example object of the invention is to provide a notificationapparatus, a notification method, a notification program, and anotification system that are capable of sending the notification to arange of places from short distance areas to remote areas, whilereducing increases in the electricity consumption and the communicationcost.

Means for Solving the Problems

To achieve the above example object, a notification apparatus accordingto an example aspect of the invention, including:

an alarm sound generating unit configured to generate alarm sounds;

a location information obtaining unit configured to obtain locationinformation;

an activating unit configured to activate the alarm sound generatingunit and the location information obtaining unit;

a communication unit configured to perform low-power wide-area wirelesscommunication; and

a control unit configured to transmit notification information via thecommunication unit if the control unit fails to obtain the locationinformation from the location information obtaining unit after theactivating unit activated the alarm sound generating unit, thenotification information including notification apparatus identifyinginformation for identifying the notification apparatus and notificationoccurrence information indicative of occurrence of notification.

Also, to achieve the above example object, a control method for anotification apparatus according to an example aspect of the invention,including:

(a) a step of transmitting notification information via a communicationunit that performs low-power wide-area wireless communication iflocation information cannot be obtained from a location informationobtaining unit that obtains the location information after an activatingunit activated an alarm sound generating unit that generates alarmsounds, the notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information for identifying the notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification.

Also, to achieve the above example object, a computer-readable recordingmedium that includes a control program for a notification apparatusrecorded thereon according to an example aspect of the invention, theprogram including instructions that causes a processor to carry out:

(a) a step of transmitting notification information via a communicationunit that performs low-power wide-area wireless communication iflocation information cannot be obtained from a location informationobtaining unit that obtains the location information after an activatingunit activated an alarm sound generating unit that generates alarmsounds, the notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information for identifying the notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification.

Also, to achieve the above example object, a notification systemaccording to an example aspect of the invention, including:

a notification apparatus configured to transmit first notificationinformation if the notification apparatus fails to obtain locationinformation after an alarm sound generating unit configured to generatealarm sounds is activated, the first notification information includingnotification apparatus identifying information identifying thenotification apparatus and notification occurrence informationindicative of occurrence of notification;

a wireless communication device configured to transmit secondnotification information if the wireless communication device receivesthe first notification information, the second notification informationincluding, in addition to the first notification information, wirelesscommunication device identifying information identifying the wirelesscommunication device that received the first notification information,received radio wave intensity information indicative of an intensity ofreceived radio waves measured when the first notification informationwas received, and wireless communication date and time informationindicative of a date and time at which the first notificationinformation was received; and

an information generating apparatus configured to generate displayinformation if the information generating apparatus receives the secondnotification information, the information generating apparatusgenerating the display information on the basis of the received radiowave intensity information and installation location informationindicative of an installation location of the wireless communicationdevice that received the first notification information, and the displayinformation being for causing a terminal device to display, on a map, alocation corresponding to the notification apparatus.

Also, to achieve the above example object, a notification methodaccording to an example aspect of the invention, including:

(a) a step of transmitting first notification information if locationinformation cannot be obtained after an alarm sound generating unitconfigured to generate alarm sounds is activated, the first notificationinformation including notification apparatus identifying informationidentifying the notification apparatus and notification occurrenceinformation indicative of occurrence of notification;

(b) a step of transmitting second notification information if the firstnotification information is received, the second notificationinformation including, in addition to the first notificationinformation, wireless communication device identifying informationidentifying the wireless communication device that received the firstnotification information, received radio wave intensity informationindicative of an intensity of received radio waves measured when thefirst notification information was received, and wireless communicationdate and time information indicative of a date and time at which thefirst notification information was received; and

(c) a step of generating display information if the second notificationinformation is received, the display information being generated on thebasis of the received radio wave intensity information and installationlocation information indicative of an installation location of thewireless communication device that received the first notificationinformation, and the display information being for causing a terminaldevice to display, on a map, a location corresponding to thenotification apparatus.

Also, to achieve the above example object, an information generatingapparatus according to an example aspect of the invention, configured togenerate display information if the information generating apparatusreceives second notification information in case where locationinformation cannot be obtained after an alarm sound generating unitconfigured to generate alarm sounds is activated,

the second notification information including, in addition to firstnotification information, wireless communication device identifyinginformation identifying a wireless communication device that receivedthe first notification information, received radio wave intensityinformation indicative of an intensity of received radio waves measuredwhen the first notification information was received, and wirelesscommunication date and time information indicative of a date and time atwhich the first notification information was received,

the first notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information identifying a notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification, and

the display information being generated on the basis of the receivedradio wave intensity information and installation location informationindicative of an installation location of the wireless communicationdevice that received the first notification information, and being forcausing a terminal device to display, on a map, a location correspondingto the notification apparatus.

Also, to achieve the above example object, an information generatingmethod according to an example aspect of the invention, including:

(a) a step of generating display information if second notificationinformation is received in case where location information cannot beobtained after an alarm sound generating unit configured to generatealarm sounds is activated,

the second notification information including, in addition to firstnotification information, wireless communication device identifyinginformation identifying a wireless communication device that receivedthe first notification information, received radio wave intensityinformation indicative of an intensity of received radio waves measuredwhen the first notification information was received, and wirelesscommunication date and time information indicative of a date and time atwhich the first notification information was received,

the first notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information identifying a notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification, and

the display information being generated on the basis of the receivedradio wave intensity information and installation location informationindicative of an installation location of the wireless communicationdevice that received the first notification information, and being forcausing a terminal device to display, on a map, a location correspondingto the notification apparatus.

Moreover, to achieve the above example object, a computer-readablerecording medium that includes a program recorded thereon according toan example aspect of the invention, the program including instructionsthat causes a computer to carry out:

(a) a step of generating display information if second notificationinformation is received in case where location information cannot beobtained after an alarm sound generating unit configured to generatealarm sounds is activated,

the second notification information including, in addition to firstnotification information, wireless communication device identifyinginformation identifying a wireless communication device that receivedthe first notification information, received radio wave intensityinformation indicative of an intensity of received radio waves measuredwhen the first notification information was received, and wirelesscommunication date and time information indicative of a date and time atwhich the first notification information was received,

the first notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information identifying a notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification, and

the display information being generated on the basis of the receivedradio wave intensity information and installation location informationindicative of an installation location of the wireless communicationdevice that received the first notification information, and being forcausing a terminal device to display, on a map, a location correspondingto the notification apparatus.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

As described above, according to the invention, it is possible to sendthe notification to a range of places from short distance areas toremote areas, while reducing increases in the electricity consumptionand the communication cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating one example of a notification apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating one example of a system including thenotification apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating one example of an operation of thenotification apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating one example of an operation of aninformation generating apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a modification of the operation of thenotification apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating one example of a computer for realizingthe information generating apparatus.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

Example Embodiment

In the following, example embodiment of the invention will be described,referring to FIGS. 1 to 6.

Apparatus Configuration

To begin with, a configuration of a notification apparatus according toan example embodiment will be described, referring to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 isa view illustrating one example of the notification apparatus.

A notification apparatus 1 according to the present example embodimentas illustrated in FIG. 1 is an apparatus capable of sending thenotification to a range of places from short distance areas to remoteareas, while reducing increases in the electricity consumption and thecommunication cost. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the notification apparatus1 includes an alarm sound generating unit 2, a location informationobtaining unit 3, an activating unit 4, a communication unit 5, and acontrol unit 6.

More specifically, the notification apparatus 1 includes the alarm soundgenerating unit 2 configured to generate alarm sounds, the locationinformation obtaining unit 3 configured to obtain location information,the activating unit 4 configured to activate the alarm sound generatingunit 2 and the location information obtaining unit 3, the communicationunit 5 configured to perform low-power wide-area wireless communication,and the control unit 6 configured to control these units. Moreover, ifthe control unit 6 fails to obtain the location information from thelocation information obtaining unit 3 after the activating unit 4activated the alarm sound generating unit 2, the control unit 6transmits notification information via the communication unit 5, thenotification information including notification apparatus identifyinginformation for identifying the notification apparatus 1, andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification.

The notification apparatus 1 may be, for example, a personal buzzeralarm, an emergency notification apparatus for use by an elderly person,a disabled person, or the like when the person needs assistance. Thealarm sound generating unit 2 may be, for example, a buzzer, a speaker,or the like. The activating unit 4 may be, for example, a pull-stringtrigger, a push-button trigger, or the like. The location informationobtaining unit 3 is a device such as a GPS communication module. Thecommunication unit 5 is a wireless communication module employing acommunication scheme for realizing a long-distance communication withlow electricity consumption. For example, the communication unit 5 maybe, for example, a device such as LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) wirelesscommunication module. The control unit 6 is a circuit formed with a CPU(Central Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field-programmable Gate Array), orthe like.

As described above, according to the present example embodiment, thenotification apparatus 1 is configured such that, in a normal situation,the location information obtaining unit 3 is at cold standby until theactivating unit 4 activates the alarm sound generating unit 2, and thatthe communication unit 5 employs the low-power wide-area wirelesscommunication, thereby making it possible to reduce an increase of theelectricity consumption. Therefore, it is not necessary to performfrequently replacement or recharging of a power source such as a batterymounted on the notification apparatus 1. Moreover, the communicationunit 5 employs the low-power wide-area wireless communication, therebymaking it possible to lower communication cost, compared with a casewhere a wide-area wireless communication device is employed.

Furthermore, the notification apparatus 1 is capable of transmitting thenotification information via the communication unit 5 even in a periodbetween when the activating unit 4 activates the alarm sound generatingunit 2 and when it becomes possible to obtain the location informationfrom the location information obtaining unit 3, that is, in a period inwhich the location information obtaining unit 3 transits from the coldstandby to the warm standby. Therefore, the notification apparatus 1 iscapable of sending the notification to a range of places from shortdistance areas to remote areas soon after the alarming is triggered bythe activating unit 4.

System Configuration

Next, referring to FIG. 2, a notification system according to thepresent example embodiment will be described more specifically. FIG. 2is a view illustrating one example of a system including thenotification apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a notification system 20 according to thepresent example embodiment includes the notification apparatus 1, awireless communication device 21 (indicated as 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c inFIG. 2), a server device 22, and an information generating apparatus 23.Moreover, the notification apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes aclock unit 7, in addition to the alarm sound generating unit 2, thelocation information obtaining unit 3, the activating unit 4, thecommunication unit 5, and the control unit 6.

The notification apparatus 1 is configured to generate the alarm soundsand transmit the notification information to the wireless communicationdevice 21 in response to an operation of the activating unit 4 by a user(for example, an operation for pulling a pull string of a personalbuzzer alarm). The notification apparatus 1 will be described morespecifically.

The alarm sound generating unit 2 is configured to generate the alarmsounds with a volume large enough to notify the people around of thedangerous situation. If the control unit 6 detects the operation of theactivating unit 4, the alarm sound generating unit 2 generates the alarmsounds according to an activation signal outputted by the control unit6.

The location information obtaining unit 3 is configured to obtain, viathe GPS or the like, location information indicative of a currentposition (latitude and longitude) of the notification apparatus 1, andtransmit to the control unit 6 the location information thus obtained.The location information obtaining unit 3 is configured to transit fromthe cold standby to the warm standby in response to the activationsignal outputted from the control unit 6 in case where the control unit6 detects the operation of the activation unit 4.

The activating unit 4 is configured to output a signal indicative of theoperation of the activation unit 4 to the control unit 6 in case wherethe activating unit 4 is operated by a user for the purpose ofnotification, for example, the pull string of the personal buzzer alarmis pulled. The control unit 6, which detects the signal, activates thealarm sound generating unit 2 and the location information obtainingunit 3.

The communication unit 5 is configured to perform the low-powerwide-area wireless communication with the wireless communication device21. The communication unit 5 is configured to transmit the notificationinformation, which is transmitted from the control unit 6, to thewireless communication device 21, the notification information includingthe notification apparatus identifying information for identifying thenotification apparatus 1 and notification occurrence informationindicative of the generation of the notification.

The control unit 6 is configured to output the activation signal to thealarm sound generating unit 2, in case where the control unit 6 detectsthe operation of the activating unit 4, the activation signalinstructing the generation of the alarm sounds. Moreover, the controlunit 6 is configured to output the activation signal to the locationinformation obtaining unit 3 in case where the control unit 6 detectsthe operation of the activating unit 4, the activation signalinstructing the transition of the location information obtaining unit 3from the cold standby to the warm standby.

In case where the control unit 6 fails to obtain the locationinformation, the control unit 6 generates notification information(first notification information: notification information without thelocation information) including notification apparatus identifyinginformation for identifying the notification apparatus 1 andnotification occurrence information indicative of the generation of thenotification, and the control unit 6 outputs to the communication unit 5the notification information thus generated.

Moreover, In case where the control unit 6 obtains the locationinformation after a predetermined time period is passed, the controlunit 6 generates notification information including the notificationapparatus identifying information, the notification occurrenceinformation, and the location information (third notificationinformation: notification information with the location information),and outputs to the communication unit 5 the notification informationthus generated. The predetermined time period is a time period equal toor longer than a time period required for the transition from the coldstandby to the warm standby.

The clock unit 7 is configured to time for a predetermined preset timewhen the activation unit 4 is restored to a pre-activation state, andoutput to the control unit 6 the time period thus timed. The controlunit 6 may include the clock unit 7.

In case where the wireless communication device 21 receives thenotification information transmitted from the communication unit 5, thewireless communication device 21 generates notification occurrenceinformation (second notification information: notification informationwithout the location information) to which wireless communication deviceidentifying information for identifying the wireless communicationdevice 21 that received the notification information (the firstnotification information: the notification information without thelocation information), received radio wave intensity informationindicative of intensity of received radio waves that was measured whenthe notification occurrence information was received, and wirelesscommunication date and time information indicative of a date and time atwhich the notification information was received are added, and thewireless communication device 21 transmits the notification occurrenceinformation to the server device 22.

Moreover, in case where the wireless communication device 21 receivesthe notification information (the third notification: the notificationinformation with the location information) transmitted from thecommunication unit 5, the wireless communication device 21 transmits thenotification information (the third notification: the notificationinformation with the location information) to the server device 22. Thewireless communication device 21 may be, for example, an LPWA (low-powerwide-area) wireless communication station gateway device, or the like.

In case where the server device 22 receives the notification information(the second notification information: the notification informationwithout the location information, or the third notification information:the notification information with the location information) from thewireless communication device 21, the server device 22 transmits thenotification information (the second notification information or thethird notification information) to the information generating apparatus23. The server device 22 may be, for example, an LPWA (low-powerwide-area) network server device, or the like.

In case where the information generating apparatus 23 receives thenotification information (the second notification information: thenotification information without the location information) from theserver device 22, the information generating apparatus 23 generatesdisplay information for performing display on a map based on thenotification apparatus identifying information, the notificationoccurrence information, the wireless communication device identifyinginformation, and installation location information indicative of aninstallation location of the wireless communication device 21 and mapinformation that the information generating apparatus 23 have, thedisplay indicating the wireless communication device 21 that receivedthe notification information.

More specifically, the information generating apparatus 23 determinesthe installation location of the wireless communication device 21 on themap, referring to the notification device identifying informationidentifying the notification apparatus 1. Next, the informationgenerating apparatus 23 generates the display information (first-stagedisplay information) for causing a terminal device 24 to display, on themap, the installation location of the wireless communication device 21that received the notification information, a report of the notificationoccurrence, the date and time of the notification occurrence, and/or thelike.

For example, the display displays a circle whose center is an imageindicating the wireless communication device 21 displayed on the map,and whose radius is set according to the received radio wave intensityinformation. That is, the display displays a range which is deduced toinclude where the notification was made. If the intensity of thereceived radio waves is strong, the circle is displayed in a smallersize, and if the intensity of the received radio waves is weak, thecircle is displayed in a larger size. In this way, it is possible toroughly present a user an idea about the location where the notificationapparatus 1 performed the transmission of the notification information.

Moreover, in case where the information generating apparatus 23 receivestwo pieces of notification information (second notification information)from two wireless communication devices 21, respectively, theinformation generating apparatus 23 refers to the received radio waveintensity information, and generates the display information (thefirst-stage display information) on the basis of the installationlocation of the wireless communication device 21 whose intensity of thereceived radio waves is stronger.

Furthermore, in case where the information generating apparatus 23receives three or more pieces of notification information (the secondnotification information) from three or more wireless communicationdevices 21, respectively, the information generating apparatus 23 refersto the received radio wave intensity information, and calculates out thelocation of the notification apparatus 1 by triangulation using theinstallation locations of the wireless communication devices 21 whoseintensities of the received radio waves are stronger. Next theinformation generating apparatus 23 generates display information(second-stage display information) for displaying, on map information, aresult of the calculation of the triangulation. In this way, it ispossible to more specifically present the user an idea about thelocation of the notification apparatus 1 that performed the transmissionof the notification information, than the first-stage displayinformation.

In case where the information generating apparatus 23 then receives thenotification information (the third notification information: thenotification information with the location information) from the serverdevice 22, the information generating apparatus 23 generates displayinformation (third-stage display information) for performing display onthe map on the basis of the location information and the mapinformation, the display indicating the wireless communication device 21that received the notification information.

More specifically, the information generating apparatus 23 determinesthe installation location of the wireless communication device 21 on themap by using the location information. Next, the information generatingapparatus 23 generates the display information (the third-stage displayinformation) for causing the terminal device 24 to display, on the map,the more specific location of the notification apparatus 1 from whichthe notification information was received, the report of thenotification occurrence, and the date and time of the notificationoccurrence, and/or the like. The information generating apparatus 23 isan application server device or the like.

The terminal device 24 is configured to obtain via a network the displayinformation thus generated by the information generating apparatus 23,and to perform the display according to the display information. Theterminal device 24 may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, apersonal computer, or the like.

Modification

One exemplary modification will be described herein. For example, incase where a personal buzzer alarm with the communication function asdescribed above is used, the personal buzzer alarm would not only stopthe alarming but also stop the communication function if an attackerrestored the pull string of the personal buzzer alarm to an originalstate. Accordingly, the dangerous situation would persist.

In view of this, this modification is configured such that, if theactivating unit 4 is returned to the pre-activation state, the controlunit 6 outputs to the alarm sound generating unit 2 a stop signal forstopping the alarm sounds, thereby stopping the alarm sounds, meanwhilethe control unit 6 instructs the clock unit 7 to time for thepredetermined preset time when the activating unit 4 is returned to thepre-activation state.

Next, while the timing operation is being carried out, the control unit6 keeps transmitting the notification information (the thirdnotification information: the notification with the locationinformation) to the wireless communication device 21 via thecommunication unit 5 even if the activating unit 4 is returned to thepre-activation state. When the clock unit 7 finishes the timingoperation for the preset time, the transmission of the notificationinformation (the third notification information: the notificationinformation with the location information) is stopped. Moreover, thecontrol unit 6 causes the location information obtaining unit 3 totransit to the cold standby.

In this way, if the activating unit 4 is returned to the pre-activationstate (for example, the pull string of the personal buzzer alarm isrestored), the transmission of the notification information (the thirdnotification information: the notification information with the locationinformation) is continued for the preset time. Therefore, even if thealarming of the buzzer is not heard by other people, the low-powerwide-area wireless communication can be continued, thereby making itpossible to confirm the location of the notification apparatus 1remotely. Thus, it is possible to send a rescue to the dangeroussituation that would still persist.

Other Examples

The notification apparatus 1 may include another activating unit inaddition to the activating unit 4, the another activating unit beingconfigured to activate not the alarm sound generating unit 2, but thelocation information obtaining unit 3. That is, it may be configured toprovide such an option that only the location information obtaining unit3 is activated and only the location information is transmitted. In thisway, the notification apparatus 1 may become applicable as an emergencynotification apparatus for use in contacting a taxi company, a localcare supporter, or the like when an elderly person or a disabled personin a remote area needs a support, apart from for use by parents, familymembers, teachers, and police.

Moreover, the notification apparatus 1 may be configured without thelocation information obtaining unit 3, so that the informationgenerating apparatus 23 does not generate the third-stage displayinformation. That is, the information generating apparatus 23 may beconfigured to generate the first-stage and second stage displayinformation only. In this way, the notification apparatus 1 may be lowerin price.

Further, a notification system 20 may be configured by including thenotification apparatus 1, the wireless communication device 21, and theserver device 22. That is, the function of the information generatingapparatus 23 for generating the display information may be provided inthe server device 22. By omitting the information generating apparatus23 in this way, it may become possible to lower a price for installing anotification service.

Apparatus Operations

Next, an operation of the notification apparatus 1 according to anexample embodiment of the invention will be described, referring to FIG.3. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating one example of the operation of thenotification apparatus. Moreover, an operation of the informationgenerating apparatus 23 according to the present example embodiment ofthe invention will be described, referring to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a viewillustrating one example of the operation of the information generatingapparatus. Further, a modification of the notification apparatusaccording to the present example embodiment of the invention will bedescribed, referring to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating amodification of the operation of the notification apparatus.

In the explanation below, FIGS. 1 to 3 will be referred whereappropriate. Moreover, in the present example embodiment, a notificationmethod is carried out by operating the notification apparatus. Thus, theexplanation of the notification method is substituted by the explanationof the operation of the notification apparatus below. Further, in thepresent example embodiment, an information generating method is carriedout by operating the information generating apparatus. Thus, theexplanation of the information generating method is substituted by theexplanation of the operation of the information generating apparatusbelow.

The operation of the notification apparatus 1 will be described herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, to begin with, the control unit 6 detects theoperation of the activating unit 4 (Step A1). Then, the control unit 6activates the alarm sound generating unit 2 and the location informationobtaining unit 3 (Step A2). Then, the control unit 6 judges whether ornot the location information obtaining unit 3 has obtained the locationinformation (Step A3). If the location information obtaining unit 3 hasobtained the location information (Step A3: Yes), then the control unit6 transmits the third notification information to the wirelesscommunication device 21 via the communication unit 5 (Step A4). If thelocation information obtaining unit 3 has not obtained the locationinformation (Step A3: No), then the control unit 6 transmits the firstnotification information to the wireless communication device 21 via thecommunication unit 5 (Step A5). Then, the control unit 6 detects whetheror not the activating unit 4 has been restored to the original stage(Step A6). That is, the control unit 6 detects whether or not thenotification apparatus 1 is in a stop condition. If the control unit 6detects that the notification apparatus 1 has been transited to the stopcondition (Step A6: Yes), the process is ended. Moreover, if thenotification apparatus 1 has not been transited to the stop condition(Step A6: No), the process from Step A3 to A6 is repeated.

Steps A1 to A6 will be described in detail.

At Step A1, the control unit 6 detects a signal indicative of theoperation of activating unit 4, the signal being outputted by theactivating unit 4 if the activating unit 4 is operated by the user fornotification, for example if the pull string of the personal buzzeralarm is pulled.

At Step A2, if the control unit 6 detects the operation of theactivating unit 4, the control unit 6 outputs to the alarm soundgenerating unit 2 the activation signal for instructing the generationof the alarm sounds. Moreover, if the control unit 6 detects theoperation of the activating unit 4, the control unit 6 outputs theactivation signal to the location information obtaining unit 3, therebycausing the location information obtaining unit 3 to transit from thecold standby to the warm standby.

At Step A3, the control unit 6 judges whether or not the locationinformation obtaining unit 3 has obtained the location information.

At Step A4, if the control unit 6 has obtained the location informationfrom the location information obtaining unit 3 (Step A3: Yes), thecontrol unit 6 generates the third notification information (thenotification information with the location information) including thenotification apparatus identifying information, the notificationoccurrence information, and the location information, and the controlunit 6 outputs to the communication unit 5 the notification informationthus generated. More specifically, if the control unit 6 obtains thelocation information after a predetermined time period has passed, thecontrol unit 6 generates the third notification information (thenotification information with the location information), and transmitsthe notification information thus generated, to the wirelesscommunication device 21 via the communication unit 5.

At Step A5, if the control unit 6 fails to obtain the locationinformation from the location information obtaining unit 3 (Step A3:No), the control unit 6 generates the first notification information(the notification information without the location information)including the notification apparatus identifying information and thenotification occurrence information indicative of the occurrence of thenotification, and the control unit 6 outputs to the communication unit 5the notification information thus generated. More specifically, if thecontrol unit 6 fails to obtain the location information, the controlunit 6 generates the first notification information (the notificationinformation without the location information), and transmits thenotification information thus generated, to the wireless communicationdevice 21 via the communication unit 5.

The wireless communication device 21, which received the notificationinformation, generates the second notification information and transmitsthe second notification information to the server device 22, if thenotification information received is the first notification information.Moreover, the wireless communication device 21, which received thenotification information, transmits the third notification informationto the server device 22, if the notification information received is thethird notification information. After that, the server device 22, whichreceived the second or the third notification information, transmits thesecond or the third notification information to the informationgenerating apparatus 23.

At Step A6, the control unit 6 detects whether or not the notificationapparatus 1 is in the stop condition, and if the control unit 6 detectsthat the notification apparatus 1 has transited to the stop condition(Step A6: Yes), the process is ended. Moreover, if the notificationapparatus 1 has not been transited to the stop condition (Step A6: No),the process from Step A3 to A6 is repeated.

The operation of the information generating apparatus 23 will bedescribed.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, to begin with, the information generatingapparatus 23 receives the notification information (Step B1). Then, theinformation generating apparatus 23 judges whether or not thenotification information that the information generating apparatus 23received is the third notification information (Step B2). If thenotification information thus received is the third notificationinformation (Step B2: Yes), the information generating apparatus 23generates the third-stage display information (Step B3). Moreover, ifthe information generating apparatus 23 fails to obtain the thirdnotification information (Step B2: No), the information generatingapparatus 23 judges whether or not the wireless communication device 21that has received the second notification information is one (Step B4).

If the wireless communication device 21 that has received the secondnotification information is one (Step B4: Yes), the informationgenerating apparatus 23 generates the first-stage display information(Step B5). If more than one wireless communication device 21 hasreceived the second notification information (Step B4: No), theinformation generating apparatus 23 judges whether or not two wirelesscommunication devices 21 have received the second notificationinformation (Step B6).

If two wireless communication devices 21 have received the secondnotification information (Step B6: Yes), the information generatingapparatus 23 determines which one of the two wireless communicationdevices 21 is a wireless communication device 21 with a greaterintensity of the received radio waves, on the basis of the secondnotification information (Step B7). If more than two wirelesscommunication devices 21 have received the second notificationinformation (Step B6: No), the information generating apparatus 23performs calculation by triangulation by using the installationlocations of the wireless communication devices 21 that have receivedthe second notification information (Step B8). After that, theinformation generating apparatus 23 generates the second-stage displayinformation (Step B9).

Steps B1 to B8 will be described in detail.

At Step B1, the information generating apparatus 23 receives the secondor third notification information form the server device 22.

At Step B2, the information generating apparatus 23 judges whether ornot the information generating apparatus 23 received the thirdnotification information. That is, if the notification information thusreceived includes the location information, the information generatingapparatus 23 judges that the information generating apparatus 23received the third notification information.

At Step B3, the information generating apparatus 23 generates thethird-stage display information on the basis of the map information andthe location information if the information generating apparatus 23receives the third notification information. More specifically, theinformation generating apparatus 23 determines the installation locationof the wireless communication device 21 on the map by using the locationinformation. Then, the information generating apparatus 23 generates thethird-stage display information for causing the terminal device 24 todisplay, on the map, the more specific location of the notificationapparatus 1 from which the notification information was received, thereport of the occurrence of the notification, the date and time of theoccurrence of the notification, and/or the like.

At Step B4, if the information generating apparatus 23 receives thesecond notification information, the information generating apparatus 23judges whether or not the wireless communication device 21 that receivedthe second notification information is one. At Step B5, if the wirelesscommunication device 21 that received the second notificationinformation is one (Step B4: Yes), the information generating apparatus23 generates the first-stage display information. More specifically, tobegin with, the information generating apparatus 23 determines theinstallation location of the wireless communication device 21 on the mapby using the notification apparatus identifying information identifyingthe notification apparatus 1. Then, the information generating apparatus23 generates display information (first-stage display information) forcausing the terminal device 24 to display, on the map, the installationlocation of the wireless communication device 21 that received thenotification information, the report of the occurrence of thenotification, the date and time of the occurrence of the notification,and/or the like.

At Step B6, if two wireless communication devices 21 received the secondnotification information (Step B4: No), the information generatingapparatus 23 judges whether or not two wireless communication devices 21received the second notification information.

At Step B7, if two wireless communication devices 21 received the secondnotification information (Step B6: Yes), the information generatingapparatus 23 generates the first-stage display information. Morespecifically, at Step B7, if the information generating apparatus 23receives two pieces of second notification information from two wirelesscommunication devices 21, respectively, the information generatingapparatus 23 determines a wireless communication device 21 with agreater intensity of received radio waves between the wirelesscommunication devices 21, referring to the received radio wave intensityinformation. After that, at Step B5, the information generatingapparatus 23 generates the first-stage display information by using theinstallation location of the wireless communication device 21 thusdetermined.

At Step B8, if the information generating apparatus 23 received three ormore pieces of the second notification information from three or morewireless communication devices 21, respectively (Step B6: No), to beginwith, the information generating apparatus 23 calculates out theposition of the notification apparatus 1 on the basis of thetriangulation by using the installation locations of three wirelesscommunication devices 21 with greater intensities of received radiowaves, referring to the received radio wave intensity information. Next,at Step B8, the information generating apparatus 23 generates thesecond-stage display information for displaying the result of thecalculation of the triangulation on the map information.

An operation of the modification of the control device will bedescribed.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 6 detects that the activatingunit 4 is in the pre-activation state (Step C1). Then, the control unit6 outputs a stop signal to the alarm sound generating unit 2 (Step C2).Then, the control unit 6 causes the clock unit 7 to start to time (StepC3). Then, the control unit 6 obtains the location information from thelocation information obtaining unit 3 (Step C4). Then, the control unit6 transmits the third notification information to the wirelesscommunication device 21 (Step C5). Then, the control unit 6 judgeswhether the preset time has passed (Step C6). Then, if the preset timehas passed (Step C6: Yes), the control unit 6 stops the transmission ofthe third notification information to the wireless communication device21 (Step C7). Moreover, if the preset time has not passed (Step C6: No),the control unit 6 repeats the process from Step C4 to C5.

Steps C1 to C7 will be described in detail.

At Step C1, the control unit 6 detects that the activating unit 4 is inthe pre-activation state (for example, the pull string of the personalbuzzer alarm is restored).

At Step C2, if the control unit 6 detects that the activating unit 4 isin the preset state, the control unit 6 outputs to the alarm soundgenerating unit 2 the stop signal for stopping the alarm sounds, therebyto stop the alarm sounds.

As Step C3, the control unit 6 instructs the clock unit 7 to time forthe predetermined preset time.

At Step C4, the control unit 6 obtains the location information from thelocation information obtaining unit 3. Then, at Step C5, the controlunit 6 transmits the third notification information thus generated, tothe wireless communication device 21 via the communication unit 5.

At Step C6, the control unit 6 judges whether or not the clock unit 7has finished to time for the preset time. At Step C7, if the clock unit7 has finished to time for the present time (Step C6: Yes), the controlunit 6 stops the transmission of the third notification information.Moreover, the control unit 6 causes the location information obtainingunit 3 to transit to the cold standby.

Effects of Example Embodiment

As described above, according to the present example embodiment, thenotification apparatus 1 is configured such that, in the normalsituation, the communication unit 5 is at the cold standby. Moreover,the communication unit 5 employs the low-power wide-area wirelesscommunication. In this way, the electricity consumption can be reduced.Therefore, frequent replacement or charging of a power source such as abattery mounted on the notification apparatus 1 is not necessary.Furthermore, the communication unit 5, which employs the low-powerwide-area wireless communication, can reduce an increase of thecommunication cost, compared with the case where the wide-area wirelesscommunication device is employed.

Moreover, the notification apparatus 1 is capable of transmitting thenotification information via the communication unit 5 even in the periodfrom when the activating unit 4 activated the alarm sound generatingunit 2 to when the location information obtaining unit 3 becomes able toobtain the location information, that is, even in the period in whichthe location information obtaining unit 3 transits from the cold standbyto the warm standby. Therefore, the notification apparatus 1 is capableof sending the notification to a range of places from short distanceareas to remote areas soon after the notification is triggered by usingthe activating unit 4.

Moreover, if the activating unit 4 is restored to the pre-activationstate (for example, the pull string of the personal buzzer alarm isrestored), the notification information (the third notificationinformation: the notification information with the location information)is continued for the preset time. Therefore, even in such a situationthat the sounds of the buzzer are not heard by the other people, thelow-power wide-area wireless communication can be continued, therebymaking it possible to confirm the location of the notification apparatus1 remotely. Thus, even if the dangerous situation persists, the rescuecan be promptly carried out.

More specifically, even though it takes some time to obtain the locationinformation (latitude and longitude) by using the location informationobtaining unit 3 having been in the cold standby (complete stop state),the transmission of the notification information to the wirelesscommunication device 21 can be carried out by using the low-powerwide-area wireless communication until the location information isobtained by using the GPS. Thus, it is possible to roughly grasp thelocation of the occurrence of the notification made by the notificationapparatus 1 (as a radial distance from the installation location of thewireless communication device 21 as the center).

Moreover, if a plurality of (three or more) wireless communicationdevices 21 each received the notification information, it is possible toroughly grasp the location of the occurrence of the notification by thetriangulation. Moreover, the more specific location information isgrasped after the location was roughly grasped, thereby making itpossible to start to narrow down the location of the occurrence of thenotification in a stepwise manner since the occurrence of thenotification. Thus, appropriate measures to the notification can betaken by not only the parents, family members, teachers, and police, butalso the taxi companies, local care supporters, and the like.

By narrowing down the location of the occurrence of the notification inthe stepwise manner as described above, it is possible to achievereduction of the electricity consumption and the communication costwithout sacrificing speediness of the notification.

Program

A notification program according to one example embodiment of theinvention can be any program, as long as the program causes a computerto execute Steps A1 to A6 illustrated in FIG. 3 and Steps C1 to C7illustrated in FIG. 5. By installing and running this program on acomputer, the notification apparatus and the notification methodaccording to the present example embodiment can be realized. In thiscase, a processor of the computer functions and performs as the controlunit 6.

Moreover, an information generating program according to one exampleembodiment of the invention can be any program, as long as the programcauses a computer to execute Steps B1 to B9 illustrated in FIG. 4. Byinstalling and running this program on a computer, the informationgenerating apparatus and information generating method can be realized.In this case, a processor of the computer functions as informationgeneration and performs the information generation apparatus.

Moreover, the information generating program according to the presentexample embodiment may be executed on a computer system structured byincluding a plurality of computers.

Physical Structure

Here, a computer for realizing the information generating apparatus bycarrying out the program according to the present example embodimentwill be described referring to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a view illustrating oneexample of a computer for realizing the information generatingapparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the computer 110 includes a CPU 111, a mainmemory 112, a storage device 113, an input interface 114, a displaycontroller 115, a data reader/writer 116, and a communication interface117. These units are connected with each other via a bus 121 in such away that data communication is possible between these units. Thecomputer 110 may include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or an FPGA(Field-Programmable Gate Array) in addition to or instead of the CPU111.

The CPU 111 decomposes on the main memory 112 the program (code)according to the present example embodiment from the storage device 113where the program is stored, and carries out the program in apredetermined order, thereby performing various computations. The mainmemory 112 may be typically a volatile storage device such as a DRAM(Dynamic Random-Access Memory). Moreover, the program according to thepresent example embodiment is provided in such a form that the programis stored on a computer-readable recording medium 120. It should benoted that the program according to the present example embodiment maybe provided on the Internet via the communication interface 117.

Moreover, concreate examples of the storage device 113 include asemiconductor storage device such as flash memory, apart from a harddisk drive. The input interface 114 is configured to interface datatransmission between the CPU 111 and an input device 118 such as akeyboard and a mouse. The display controller 115 is connected with adisplay device 119 and is configured to control display on the displaydevice 119.

The data reader/writer 116 is configured to interface data transmissionbetween the CPU 111 and the recording medium 120, thereby to read outthe program from the recording medium 120, and to write onto therecording medium 120 a result of the process performed by the computer110. The communication interface 117 is configured to interface datatransmission between the CPU 111 and another computer.

Moreover, concreate examples of the recording medium 120 includegeneral-purpose semiconductor devices such as a CF (Compact Flash(registered trademark)) and an SD (Secure Digital), magnetic recordingmedia such as a flexible disk, and optical recording media such as aCD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory).

It should be noted that the notification apparatus 1 according to thepresent example embodiment may be realized by using hardwarecorresponding to these units, instead of using the computer on which theprogram is installed. Further, the notification apparatus 1 may berealized by realizing part of the notification apparatus 1 with aprogram and the rest of the notification apparatus 1 with hardware.

[Supplementary Notes]

Regarding the example embodiment described above, Supplementary notes asbelow are also disclosed. Part or the whole of the example embodiment asdescribed above can be expressed by the Supplementary notes 1 to 28described below, but are not limited to the descriptions below.

(Supplementary Note 1)

A notification apparatus, including:

an alarm sound generating unit configured to generate alarm sounds;

a location information obtaining unit configured to obtain locationinformation;

an activating unit configured to activate the alarm sound generatingunit and the location information obtaining unit;

a communication unit configured to perform low-power wide-area wirelesscommunication; and

a control unit configured to transmit notification information via thecommunication unit if the control unit fails to obtain the locationinformation from the location information obtaining unit after theactivating unit activated the alarm sound generating unit, thenotification information including notification apparatus identifyinginformation for identifying the notification apparatus and notificationoccurrence information indicative of occurrence of notification.

(Supplementary Note 2)

The notification apparatus according to the Supplementary note 1,wherein

the control unit is configured to transmit notification information viathe communication unit if the control unit receives the locationinformation after a predetermined time period has passed, thenotification information including the notification apparatusidentifying information, the notification occurrence information, andthe location information.

(Supplementary Note 3)

The notification apparatus according to the Supplementary note 1 or 2,wherein

the control unit is configured to stop the alarm sound generating unitif the activating unit is restored to a pre-activation state, and stopsthe location information obtaining unit after a predetermined presettime has passed.

(Supplementary Note 4)

A control method for a notification apparatus, including:

(a) a step of transmitting notification information via a communicationunit that performs low-power wide-area wireless communication iflocation information cannot be obtained from a location informationobtaining unit that obtains the location information after an activatingunit activated an alarm sound generating unit that generates alarmsounds, the notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information for identifying the notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification.

(Supplementary Note 5)

The control method for a notification apparatus according toSupplementary note 4, including:

(b) a step of transmitting notification information via thecommunication unit if the location information is obtained after apredetermined time period has passed, the notification informationincluding the notification apparatus identifying information, thenotification occurrence information, and the location information.

(Supplementary Note 6)

The control method for a notification apparatus according toSupplementary note 4 or 5, including:

(c) a step of stopping the alarm sound generating unit if the activatingunit is restored to a pre-activation state, and stopping the locationinformation obtaining unit after a predetermined preset time has passed.

(Supplementary Note 7)

A processor-readable recording medium that includes a control programfor a notification apparatus recorded thereon, the program includinginstructions that causes a processor to carry out:

(a) a step of transmitting notification information via a communicationunit that performs low-power wide-area wireless communication iflocation information cannot be obtained from a location informationobtaining unit that obtains the location information after an activatingunit activated an alarm sound generating unit that generates alarmsounds, the notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information for identifying the notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification.

(Supplementary note 8)

A processor-readable recording medium being the processor-readablerecording medium according to Supplementary note 7, wherein the programfurther includes instructions that cause the processor to execute:

(b) a step of transmitting notification information via thecommunication unit if the location information is obtained after apredetermined time period has passed, the notification informationincluding the notification apparatus identifying information, thenotification occurrence information, and the location information.

(Supplementary Note 9)

The processor-readable recording medium according to Supplementary note7 or 8, wherein the program further includes instructions that cause theprocessor to execute:

(c) a step including stopping the alarm sound generating unit if theactivating unit is restored to a pre-activation state, and stopping thelocation information obtaining unit after a predetermined preset timehas passed.

(Supplementary Note 10)

A notification system, including:

a notification apparatus configured to transmit first notificationinformation if the notification apparatus fails to obtain locationinformation after an alarm sound generating unit configured to generatealarm sounds is activated, the first notification information includingnotification apparatus identifying information identifying thenotification apparatus and notification occurrence informationindicative of occurrence of notification;

a wireless communication device configured to transmit secondnotification information if the wireless communication device receivesthe first notification information, the second notification informationincluding, in addition to the first notification information, wirelesscommunication device identifying information identifying the wirelesscommunication device that received the first notification information,received radio wave intensity information indicative of an intensity ofreceived radio waves measured when the first notification informationwas received, and wireless communication date and time informationindicative of a date and time at which the first notificationinformation was received; and

an information generating apparatus configured to generate displayinformation if the information generating apparatus receives the secondnotification information, the display information being generated on thebasis of the received radio wave intensity information and installationlocation information indicative of an installation location of thewireless communication device that received the first notificationinformation, and the display information being for causing a terminaldevice to display, on a map, a location corresponding to thenotification apparatus.

(Supplementary Note 11)

The notification system according to Supplementary note 10, wherein

if the information generating apparatus receives two pieces of thesecond notification information from the two wireless communicationdevices, the information generating apparatus refers to the receivedradio wave intensity information and generates the display informationon the basis of the installation location of the wireless communicationdevice with a greater intensity of received radio waves.

(Supplementary Note 12)

The notification system according to Supplementary note 10 or 11,wherein

if the information generating apparatus receives three or more pieces ofthe second notification information from the three or more wirelesscommunication devices, the information generating apparatus refers tothe received radio wave intensity information, calculates out thelocation of the notification apparatus by triangulation on the basis ofthe installation locations of the wireless communication devices withgreater intensities of received radio waves, and generates the displayinformation by using the location thus calculated out.

(Supplementary Note 13)

The notification system according to any one of Supplementary notes 10to 12, wherein the notification apparatus transmits third notificationinformation if the notification apparatus successfully obtains thelocation information after the alarm sound generating unit configured togenerate the alarm sounds is activated, the third notificationinformation including, in addition to the first notificationinformation, the location information of the notification apparatus.

(Supplementary Note 14)

The notification system according to any one of Supplementary notes 10to 13, wherein the notification apparatus stops the alarm soundgenerating unit if the activating unit is restored to a pre-activationstate, and the notification apparatus stops the obtaining of thelocation information after a predetermined preset time has passed.

(Supplementary Note 15)

A notification method, including:

(a) a step of transmitting first notification information if locationinformation cannot be obtained after an alarm sound generating unitconfigured to generate alarm sounds is activated, the first notificationinformation including notification apparatus identifying informationidentifying the notification apparatus and notification occurrenceinformation indicative of occurrence of notification;

(b) a step of transmitting second notification information if the firstnotification information is received, the second notificationinformation including, in addition to the first notificationinformation, wireless communication device identifying informationidentifying the wireless communication device that received the firstnotification information, received radio wave intensity informationindicative of an intensity of received radio waves measured when thefirst notification information was received, and wireless communicationdate and time information indicative of a date and time at which thefirst notification information was received; and

(c) a step of generating display information if the second notificationinformation is received, the display information being generated on thebasis of the received radio wave intensity information and installationlocation information indicative of an installation location of thewireless communication device that received the first notificationinformation, and the display information being for causing a terminaldevice to display, on a map, a location corresponding to thenotification apparatus.

(Supplementary note 16)

The notification method according to Supplementary note 15, wherein the(c) step includes, if two pieces of the second notification informationare received from the two wireless communication devices, referring tothe received radio wave intensity information and generating the displayinformation on the basis of the installation location of the wirelesscommunication device with a greater intensity of received radio waves.

(Supplementary Note 17)

The notification method according to Supplementary note 15 or 16,wherein

the (c) step includes, if three or more pieces of the secondnotification information are received from the three or more wirelesscommunication devices, referring to the received radio wave intensityinformation, calculating out the location of the notification apparatusby triangulation on the basis of the installation locations of thewireless communication devices with greater intensities of receivedradio waves, and generating the display information by using thelocation thus calculated out.

(Supplementary Note 18)

The notification method according to any one of Supplementary notes 15to 17, wherein

the (a) step includes transmitting third notification information if thelocation information is successfully obtained after the alarm soundgenerating unit configured to generate the alarm sounds is activated,the third notification information including, in addition to the firstnotification information, the location information of the notificationapparatus.

(Supplementary Note 19)

The notification method according to any one of Supplementary notes 15to 18, including:

(d) a step of stopping the alarm sound generating unit if the activatingunit is restored to a pre-activation state, and stopping the obtainingof the location information after a predetermined preset time haspassed.

(Supplementary Note 20)

An information generating apparatus, configured to generate displayinformation if the information generating apparatus receives secondnotification information in case where location information cannot beobtained after an alarm sound generating unit configured to generatealarm sounds is activated,

the second notification information including, in addition to firstnotification information, wireless communication device identifyinginformation identifying a wireless communication device that receivedthe first notification information, received radio wave intensityinformation indicative of an intensity of received radio waves measuredwhen the first notification information was received, and wirelesscommunication date and time information indicative of a date and time atwhich the first notification information was received,

the first notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information identifying a notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification, and

the display information being generated on the basis of the receivedradio wave intensity information and installation location informationindicative of an installation location of the wireless communicationdevice that received the first notification information, and being forcausing a terminal device to display, on a map, a location correspondingto the notification apparatus.

(Supplementary Note 21)

The information generating apparatus according to Supplementary note 20,wherein

if the information generating apparatus receives two pieces of thesecond notification information from the two wireless communicationdevices, the information generating apparatus refers to the receivedradio wave intensity information and generates the display informationon the basis of the installation location of the wireless communicationdevice with a greater intensity of received radio waves.

(Supplementary Note 22)

The information generating apparatus according to Supplementary note 20or 21, wherein

if the information generating apparatus receives three or more pieces ofthe second notification information from the three or more wirelesscommunication devices, the information generating apparatus refers tothe received radio wave intensity information, calculates out thelocation of the notification apparatus by triangulation on the basis ofthe installation locations of the wireless communication devices withgreater intensities of received radio waves, and generates the displayinformation by using the location thus calculated out.

(Supplementary Note 23)

An information generating method, including:

(a) a step of generating display information if second notificationinformation is received in case where location information cannot beobtained after an alarm sound generating unit configured to generatealarm sounds is activated,

the second notification information including, in addition to firstnotification information, wireless communication device identifyinginformation identifying a wireless communication device that receivedthe first notification information, received radio wave intensityinformation indicative of an intensity of received radio waves measuredwhen the first notification information was received, and wirelesscommunication date and time information indicative of a date and time atwhich the first notification information was received,

the first notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information identifying a notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification, and

the display information being generated on the basis of the receivedradio wave intensity information and installation location informationindicative of an installation location of the wireless communicationdevice that received the first notification information, and being forcausing a terminal device to display, on a map, a location correspondingto the notification apparatus.

(Supplementary Note 24)

The information generating method according to Supplementary note 23,including:

(b) a step of, if two pieces of the second notification information arereceived from the two wireless communication devices, referring to thereceived radio wave intensity information and generating the displayinformation on the basis of the installation location of the wirelesscommunication device with a greater intensity of received radio waves.

(Supplementary Note 25)

The information generating method according to Supplementary note 23 or24, including:

(c) a step of, if three or more pieces of the second notificationinformation are received from the three or more wireless communicationdevices, referring to the received radio wave intensity information,calculating out the location of the notification apparatus bytriangulation on the basis of the installation locations of the wirelesscommunication devices with greater intensities of received radio waves,and generating the display information by using the location thuscalculated out.

(Supplementary Note 26)

A computer-readable recording medium that includes a program recordedthereon, the program including instructions that causes a computer tocarry out:

(a) a step of generating display information if second notificationinformation is received in case where location information cannot beobtained after an alarm sound generating unit configured to generatealarm sounds is activated,

the second notification information including, in addition to firstnotification information, wireless communication device identifyinginformation identifying a wireless communication device that receivedthe first notification information, received radio wave intensityinformation indicative of an intensity of received radio waves measuredwhen the first notification information was received, and wirelesscommunication date and time information indicative of a date and time atwhich the first notification information was received,

the first notification information including notification apparatusidentifying information identifying a notification apparatus andnotification occurrence information indicative of occurrence ofnotification, and

the display information being generated on the basis of the receivedradio wave intensity information and installation location informationindicative of an installation location of the wireless communicationdevice that received the first notification information, and being forcausing a terminal device to display, on a map, a location correspondingto the notification apparatus.

(Supplementary Note 27)

The computer-readable recording medium according to Supplementary note26, wherein the program further includes instructions that causes thecomputer to carry out:

(b) a step of, if two pieces of the second notification information arereceived from the two wireless communication devices, referring to thereceived radio wave intensity information and generating the displayinformation on the basis of the installation location of the wirelesscommunication device with a greater intensity of received radio waves.

(Supplementary Note 28)

The computer-readable recording medium according to Supplementary note26 or 27, wherein the program further includes instructions that causesthe computer to carry out:

(c) a step of, if three or more pieces of the second notificationinformation are received from the three or more wireless communicationdevices, referring to the received radio wave intensity information,calculating out the location of the notification apparatus bytriangulation on the basis of the installation locations of the wirelesscommunication devices with greater intensities of received radio waves,and generating the display information by using the location thuscalculated out.

So far, the invention of the present application has been describedreferring to the example embodiment, but it should be noted that theinvention of the present application is not limited to the exampleembodiment. Any modifications and variations that a person skilled inthe art can understand may be made to the configurations and details ofthe invention of the present application within the scope of theinvention of the present application.

This application claims the benefit of the priority to the Japanesepatent application No. 2018-058820 filed on Mar. 26, 2018, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated therein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the invention, it is possible to sendnotification to a range of places from short distance areas to remoteareas, while reducing increases in the electricity consumption and thecommunication cost. The invention is useful in fields that requiresemergency notification, such as crime prevention, and care givingsupport services.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1: Notification Apparatus-   2: Alarm Sound Generating Unit-   3: Location Information Obtaining Unit-   4: Activating Unit-   5: Communication Unit-   6: Control Unit-   20: Notification System-   21, 21 a, 21 b, 21 c: Wireless Communication Device-   22: Server Device-   23: Information Generating Apparatus-   24: Terminal Device-   110: Computer-   111: CPU-   112: Main Memory-   113: Storage Device-   114: Input Interface-   115: Display Controller-   116: Data Reader/Writer-   117: Communication Interface-   118: Input Device-   119: Display Device-   120: Recording Medium-   121: Bus

What is claimed is:
 1. A notification apparatus, comprising: a memorystoring a notification apparatus identifier and information of anextension period; and a processor configured to execute programinstructions to: activate an alarm in response to turning on a switchoperated by a user; obtain location information in response to turningon the switch; transmit the notification apparatus identifier for theextension period after turning off the switch if obtaining the locationinformation is failed.
 2. The notification apparatus according to theclaim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmitnotification information if the location information is received after apredetermined time period has passed, the notification informationincluding the notification apparatus identifying information, thenotification occurrence information, and the location information.
 3. Acontrol method for a notification apparatus, comprising: activating analarm in response to turning on a switch operated by a user, obtaininglocation information in response to turning on the switch, transmittinga notification apparatus identifier for the extension period afterturning off the switch if obtaining the location information is failed.4. The control method for a notification apparatus according to claim 3,comprising: transmitting notification information if the locationinformation is obtained after a predetermined time period has passed,the notification information including the notification apparatusidentifying information, the notification occurrence information, andthe location information.
 5. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium that includes a control program for a notificationapparatus recorded thereon, the program including instructions thatcauses a processor to carry out: activating an alarm in response toturning on a switch operated by a user, obtaining location informationin response to turning on the switch, transmitting a notificationapparatus identifier for the extension period after turning off theswitch if obtaining the location information is failed.
 6. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 5,wherein the program further includes instructions that cause theprocessor to execute: transmitting notification information if thelocation information is obtained after a predetermined time period haspassed, the notification information including the notificationapparatus identifying information, the notification occurrenceinformation, and the location information.
 7. The notification apparatusaccording to the claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured totransmit the notification apparatus identifier and the locationinformation in the extension period after the switch is turned off ifthe location information can be obtained.
 8. The control method for anotification apparatus according to claim 3, further comprisingtransmitting the notification apparatus identifier and the locationinformation in the extension period after the switch is turned off ifthe location information can be obtained.
 9. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 5, wherein theprogram further includes instructions that cause the processor toexecute: transmitting the notification apparatus identifier and thelocation information in the extension period after the switch is turnedoff if the location information can be obtained.